Jade Murphy will run the London Marathon on Sunday, honouring her late father and the charity who supported her following his death in 2004.
One of the Reds' true cult heroes, the great Steve Cooper (Alumni Number 892) - who played for Barnsley between 1988 and 1990, scoring 17 goals - died suddenly in 2004.
Just 39 at the time, Steve was found to have suffered from a bleed on the brain, a shock to his family, including his then 9-year-old daughter, Jade.
She would receive bereavement counselling at Birmingham-based charity 'Beyond The Horizon'.
"They were amazing!" Jade explained.
"They were so, so good. We did activities like making a sand jar with different colours that represented different memories.
"It definitely benefited me at the time - it was a distraction and they taught me about acceptance because it was such a shock, I was just a child.
"I think talking to someone and having time away from home was a big support."
To honour both the charity and her father, Jade will on Sunday take on the gargantuan task of completing the London Marathon.
"I didn't know if they'd (the charity) remember me but they were delighted that I'd got in touch and they were so thankful that I chose to run for them," said the 29-year-old teacher.
"There's no-one else running the marathon for them, so I feel really honoured."
When speaking with Jade this week, she was proud to learn that her father was so well-thought of by Barnsley FC and its fanbase.
"It's just so lovely to hear that, and I'm sure my dad would be chuffed too!"
You can support Jade, and thus Beyond The Horizon by clicking the link below - all at Oakwell are right behind you!
